Kyle Busch poses with the trophy for photographers after winning the NASCAR Nationwide Series auto race Saturday, March 2, 2013, at Phoenix International Raceway in Avondale, Ariz.(AP Photo/Paul Connors)

Larson stalked Busch over the closing laps around Bristol Motor Speedway waiting to make a move.

It came as they closed in on the finish line, and Larson made a last-gasp push on the high side that fell just short as Busch held on for his second win of the season.

But in chasing the win the right way, the 20-year-old Larson cleaned up some of the criticism that had followed him from Daytona last month after spinning C.E. Falk III on the final lap of the "Battle at the Beach" late model race.

"You certainly want to try to win races the right way," Busch said. "He played it smart today. That was good on his end. I think a lot of people have been looking at him to try to see if he's going to be to a wrecker or a checker. Today he didn't get the checkers, but that's how you get them."

It was Busch's fifth career Nationwide victory at Bristol, tying him with Kevin Harvick for the most in the series. Busch has a series-record 53 wins, and two in the last four weeks after going winless last season.

Vettell claims Melbourne pole

Reigning Formula One world champion Sebastian Vettel claimed the pole position for the season-opening Australian Grand Prix on Sunday in a unusual qualifying session held on race day.

Vettel qualified in a time of 1 minute, 27.407 seconds around the Albert Park circuit, and was joined by Red Bull teammate Mark Webber, who was 0.4 seconds back.

The second and third sessions of qualifying were rescheduled for Sunday after a series of rain delays and the onset of darkness prevented them from being held Saturday.

Qualifying lead taken by Kalitta

Doug Kalitta qualified first in the NHRA Gatornationals in Gainsville, Fla. with a run of 3.779 seconds at a top speed of 326.32 mph.

Kalitta will face rookie Leah Pruett in the first round of the eliminations Sunday.